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Very few kids hang around in foster care until 21 if they can get out at 18. After years of people in your very personal business and 'telling you what to do', freedom from that oversight is very attractive. In TN, kids can stay in care after 18 if they are enrolled in school. If I recall correctly, they can also stay in custody if they are enrolled in one of the few independent living programs. I suspect there are far more cases of workers wishing kids would stay in custody after 18 rather than kids wanting to stay but being dumped by the system.

I hope that your charitable agency in NY is not really paying college tuition for kids in state custody; there are federal funds for that. I second the recommendations for g paradigms, even if it is just for you to gain a basic understanding of the landscape of foster care and aging out here in TN.

There is no CFS in TN. You can foster for DCS (Dept of Children's Services) directly or with a contract agency. Youth Villages (contract agency) would probably be the best fit for you. Best of luck-

Have you ever considered being a CASA volunteer? Court Appointed Special Advocates work with kids in the court system. They get to know the kids and have an opportunity to tell the judge directly what they think is in the best interest of the child. I suspect that role would suit your personality/outlook better than being a foster parent. Both are vital positions for public child welfare....

We were foster parents through Department of Children Services...but in West TN. I am sure most requirements are the same being it is via the state. But also from experience, I know each office is ran totally different. The office we worked with was wonderful but I know of another office that was horrible. I would call DCS to find out. We had to go through what was PATH classes at the time, I am not sure if they changed it. They are all different times of the month. We also had to take several courses through out the year, you have some that are required and others that are to keep your credits up.

And I agree with the "in it for the money" folks. Drives me crazy. We became foster parents because we can't have kids and we wanted to help a child in need here. We were blessed that we got to foster a newborn and eventually adopt! She is our world! I can't believe she will be 3 this month!

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